ICE Case Studies

Case Number: 4

Case Identifier: MURUROA

Case Name: French Nuclear Tests in South Pacific

By: Tish Falco

I. CASE BACKGROUND

1. Abstract

On June 13, 1995, French President Jacques Chirac announced that he would
break a three-year moratorium and resume nuclear testing in French Polynesia.
France planned to conduct eight underground tests in the South Pacific
or French Polynesia, particularly in Mururoa Atoll. The underground tests
caused geographical degradation to the atoll as well as imposing potential
health risks to the inhabitants of the South Pacific. Furthermore, France's
actions jeopardized international security agreements concerning the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty which all countries were expected to sign by May 1996.
The coalescing of the environmental and political issues resulted in several
South Pacific and international protests. French products were boycotted
and peace protests evolved to symbolize condemnation of France's actions.
Greenpeace was involved adamantly in expressing discontent with the French
government. Consequently, France stopped nuclear testing on February 22,
1996, three months short of the expected testing intervals, therefore,
only six of the eight tests were completed due to international political
pressure.

2. Description

The French colony of Mururoa Atoll is located in the southeast corner of
the Taumotu archipelago in French Polynesia. France began atmospheric nuclear
testing in the colony in 1966 because Algeria had ceased being a nuclear
test site option when the Algeria gained independence in 1962. Since 1974,
France has conducted underground tests due to guidelines of the Non-Prolifer-
ation Treaty (NPT).(1) There have been 41 atmospheric tests and 138 underground
tests from 1966 to 1992.(2) Former French president, Francois Mitterand,
ceased nuclear testing in 1992 due to NPT obligations. To international
disbelief, Jacques Chirac announced in June 1995 that France would lift
the three year moratorium and resume underground nuclear tests in the South
Pacific. Despite the end of the Cold War and decreased security tensions,
France conducted eight tests between September 1995 and May 1996. Six of
the eight tests were completed on the following dates: Sept. 5, 1993; Oct.
1, 1995; Oct. 27, 1995; Nov. 22, 1995; Dec.27, 1995 and Jan.
27, 1996.(3)(4)

France justified the tests as models to help create computer simulations
that would eradicate future testing. The results of France resuming nuclear
testing have environmental and political implications. The intersection
of political and environmental issues produces cultural, social, and economic
results that are seen through peace protests, independence movements, and
trade boycotts.

A. Environmental Issues

The exact effects of the French nuclear tests will not be known for
years. The French government is very secretive about releasing information
about environmental hazards associated with nuclear testing. There is lack
of statistical research to assess the risks to the people in the South
Pacific. Due to pressure from the European Union and the scientific community,
France has conducted several tests to assess the health and environmental
risks associated with the nuclear tests. Working with the French government,
Jacques Cousteau and his team explored damage to the Mururoa atoll for
six days in June 1987. Cousteau, however, had limited time, resources,
and access.(5) In February of 1996, France invited the United Nations organization,
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to officially release all
nuclear security data. This is a non-governmental scientific study where
the results have yet to be seen. In 1994, the IAEA set a resolution for
all states to fulfill their international responsibilities to ensure that
nuclear testing sites have no detrimental health or environmental impacts.

France's nuclear testing in the South Pacific, especially in Mururoa,
has inflicted long-term environmental damage to the geographical structuring
of the atoll. Radiation has seeped into the fissures of the atoll. A French
map from 1980 shows that years of nuclear testing have cracked the atoll.(6)
Several scientists have concluded that previous nuclear testing caused
fissuring in by destroying the coral and the altering land plates. Dr.
Murray Matthews from the National Radiation Lab in New Zealand discusses
the spread of radioactive material from wind storms and rains.(7) Pierre
Vincent, a vulcanologist, stated "that further tests could rupture the
rock and release radionuclides from underground cavities."(8) The long-term
effects increase the risk of landslides and tsunami, seismic tidal waves.
Future shocks from underground explosions could induce a tsunami that could
submerge all of Polynesia. Radioactive leaks also increase the risks to
aquatic life in the surrounding area.

The nuclear tests increase the potential risks to humans and aquatic
life. The French government insists that the intense heat from the blasts
vitrifies the rock and traps all radioactivity before it can escape, but
when there are leaks, the amount of radioactive elements (cesium, tritium,
and iodine) vanish quickly before inflicting harm on the environment.(10)
Excessive amounts of iodine 131, however, can cause thyroid disease and
cancer. Tests conducted on survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki show that
amounts registered at 500 miliSievert (mS) can cause cancer and birth defects.
It is not clear, however, how much the islanders at French Polynesia have
been exposed. Labs from New Zealand and Australia estimate that they have
received about one mS.(11) Furthermore, little plutonium from past tests
gets into the food chain because it can inflict harm on human and aquatic
life in the future.

B. Political Issues

There are also political implications involved with the French nuclear
testing. It is a political status symbol for France to possess nuclear
capabilities as well as a symbol of colonialism. The nuclear testing is
in "complete contradiction to France as the cradle of democracy and human
rights."(12) French Polynesia is economically dependent on France, therefore,
helpless in resisting nuclear tests. The French government has lost a considerable
amount of political legitimacy in the colonies and at the international
level. For example, France was nearly brought before the European Court
of Justice for possible violation of the 1957 Euratom Treaty. Under the
treaty, France is obligated to provide data to the European Commission
to ensure that safety guidelines are met. In July 1995, France gave information,
but has refused to provide further information in October, 1995. A case
was not established because France halted tests in February 1996. France's
decision to resume testing also jeopardizes international cooperation to
establish a nuclear weapons-free world. Chirac's decision undermines Frances'
commitment to the NPT and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in May 1996.
Chirac notes that a "country that wants to live in security should not
lower its guard...in a very uncertain world."(13) Others disagree. Frances's
actions "remind us of the threats and horrors that haunted the collective
imagination during the Cold War years" as stated by Brazil's Foreign Minister
Luiz Felipe Lampreia on September 25, 1995.(14)

C. The Intersection: Cultural, Social, and Economic issuesIn 1985, French commandos blew up the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior
that had mounted nuclear protests on the sea. Again, on September 1, the
French navy seized the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior II and MV Greenpeace
after the vessel had crossed the 12-mile exclusion zone that the French
had declared around the Mururoa test site. Greenpeace is suing the French
government for violation of civil rights and kidnapping and monetary reparations.(15)
In addition, several Polynesia citizens have filed suits against the French
government for violation of human rights.(16) The National Union of Scientists
publicly condemned the French government and circulated petitions demanding
that the tests not be resumed.(17)

Anti-nuclear protests occurred around the world. In Vancouver, nine
protesters chained themselves to the French consulate. In Ottawa, demonstrators
established the Cafe Bombe, outside the French Embassy, a mock restaurant
serving bomb-shaped cakes with sparklers. On Bastille Day, July 14, protesters
in New Zealand dumped manure outside the French ambassador's residence,
French Polynesians burned a French flag at a rally in Sydney, and protesters
held a candlelight vigil in Fiji.(18) At the beginning of the nuclear testing
in September, riots and protest occurred in Tahiti, the capital of French
Polynesia. Marchers wore T-shirts and banners demanding independence in
light of the nuclear testing.

Economic boycotts have symbolized international discontent with France's
actions. Trade boycotts are most prominent in New Zealand, Australia, and
Japan. Restaurants around the world have boycotted French products. For
example, Beaujolais wine is a food product that has been particularly targeted.
DeBoeuf Beaujolais had 44,000 cases valued as $270,000 canceled.(19) In
1995, tourism declined by 8% or by 15,000 fewer tourists while Club Med's
resorts lost $1 million in profits.(20) The French air craft manufacturer
Dassault lost a contract worth $370 million because they were banned from
bidding in Australia. New Zealand also has suspended a contract pertaining
to French surface-to-air missiles.(21)

3. Duration: COMPLETE (1966-96)

The tests were officially stopped in February 1996 and international condemnations
ended when France signed the NPT on May 1, 1996

The time frame of French nuclear testing in the South Pacific has lasted
periodically about 28 years. France began nuclear testing in Mururoa Atoll
in 1966. These tests were atmospheric until 1974 when they were underground
because of the NPT. Former French president, Francois Mitterand ceased
testing in 1992 due to international non-proliferation obligations. On
September 1995, under President Jacques Chirac, France resumed and extended
nuclear testing in French Polynesia. Six of the eight tests were completed
up until February 1996. France continued to sign the Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty in May 1996.

4. Location

Continent: Pacific

Region: Southeast Pacific

Country: France

5. Actors: France, New Zealand, Vanatu

II. Environment Aspects

6. Type of Environmental Problem: RADIOACTIVE

The ocean and the land of Mururoa Atoll have been directly affected by
the above-ground and underground nuclear testing throughout the years.
Surrounding islands and countries such as New Zealand, Australia,and Japan
have also been exposed to radioactivity indirectly. The amount, however,
is minimal and the results of significant damage to humans and aquatic
life are inconclusive. There is coral damage from the impact nuclear explosions
and possible damage to the plankton and fish in the sea. Furthermore, the
radioactive fallout contaminates the coral and plankton, the air when it
rains, and the sea through radioactive leaks.

7. Type of Habitat: OCEAN

8. Act and Harm Sites:

Act Site Harm Site Example
Mururoa South West Pacific Drifting radiation

III. Conflict Aspects

9. Type of Conflict: WARHARM

10. Level of Conflict: Interstate

The conflict is mainly between France and French Polynesia, especially
Mururoa Atoll. There is further conflict at the international level particularly
with the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. There is low
conflict concerning the degradation of Mururoa Atoll and the fragile ecological
system that exists in the South Pacific. There is a minimal threat to human
health from the radioactive elements from the tests. There is, however,
current and potential damage to the geographical features of the atoll
from the nuclear explosions. Future explosions could deepen the coral fissures
and create tsunami that could drown the island. Furthermore, fallout from
the explosions carried by Pacific winds and rain could contaminate surrounding
islands. The radioactive elements from the explosions have already inflicted
physical damage on the islands. The nuclear tests also increase the amounts
of radioactivity and the chances for leaks that could affect the aquatic
and land environments. The future will be the predictor of damage caused
by the nuclear explosions. The risk to wildlife is relatively high. The
Sydney Morning Herald has reported that fish near Mururoa have died after
their eyes popped out and their internal organs were forced out of their
mouths and anuses.